Worcester woman walking the dog is victim of hit-and-run

WORCESTER — A local woman who was walking the family dog was seriously injured after being hit by a gray/silver sedan that drove away from the scene.

Amanda O'Malley, 23, was struck by a car around 10:40 p.m. Friday at 165 Belmont St., near Rodney Street, according to the victim's father, Brian O'Malley.

"I could see the police cruisers from my house, along the side of the road. I thought someone must have got hit by a car. Then I realized Amanda was out walking the dog," Mr. O'Malley said. "When I went out to see what was going on, the dog came back without her. I ran down the street and saw her being loaded into an ambulance."

Mr. O'Malley said family members take turns walking the dog, usually between 10 p.m. and midnight and it was his daughter's turn Friday night.

Ms. O'Malley was taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center — University Campus. A nursing surpervisor said Ms. O'Malley was listed in fair condition Saturday night.

Mr. O'Malley said his daughter has a serious concussion with swelling in her brain, as well as a broken leg, broken arm, cracked vertebrae and broken bones in her face. He said recovery is going to take a couple of months.

With the injuries his daughter suffered, Mr. O'Malley said the driver had to know they hit her, and the vehicle should have some serious body damage. The hit-and-run happened 100 yards down the road from the O'Malleys' house, Mr. O'Malley said.

"She was obviously hit on the side, full-force of the car," Mr. O'Malley said. "The person had to be going at least 30 mph, if not faster, when they hit her. They did not stop. They left her on the side of the road."

Police believe a gray/silver sedan going west on Belmont Street struck Ms. O'Malley. The Accident Reconstruction Team was called in to investigate.The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information about this hit-and-run accident may call (508) 799-8674 or may send an anonymous text to 274637 beginning with TIPWPD or may submit an anonymous message at www.worcesterma.gov/police